Martin Scorsese's latest hits DVD this week...

...but will it be my pick of the week, given how I was slightly more reserved in my praise for it than most (though I'd argue I gave it a very nice 3.5 star review)? (The review can be found here, along with everyone else's take on the flick) Well, it's not an especially strong week otherwise, which has been the trend as of late (though most summer DVD seasons are like this), so it has a good chance. Without further ado, my PICK OF THE WEEK. It's:
Shutter Island
A very good piece of genre fare that functions best when thought of in that regard, Martin Scorsese is obviously having a great time with every frame of film. Leonardo DiCaprio is his reliably excellent self, and the supporting cast is very strong in this flick. It's not a masterpiece, but it's a very strong psychological thriller that's easy for me to recommend.
-Also out this week is the stupid action flick From Paris with Love, the documentary 180 South, and the ridiculously titled direct to DVD comedy The 41 Year Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It. I've only seen the first one, and didn't care for it, but if something here appeals to you, pick it up and enjoy.
-My Vintage pick, in honor of this week's release of Winter's Bone, is a handful of other Grand Jury Prize winning films from the Sundance Film Festival. They are The Believer, Frozen River, Primer, and You Can Count on Me. All of these films are very different, but all are of high quality. They all deserve to be seen, so definitely check them out.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

It's one of the worst weeks for DVD in a while...

...though it features one very profitable film, not that it matters to me. For my requisite PICK OF THE WEEK, I had to go with a tiny film that's decently good, but not extraordinary in any real way. It's:
Tony Manero
This Chilean suspense film has an interesting concept, but underwhelmed me when I saw it. There's nothing overtly wrong with a film that seems like American Psycho meets Saturday Night Fever (though it's not on the level of either of those flicks), but it just didn't set my world on fire. That being said, it's easily the best of the bunch this week, so if you're determined to make a purchase on a new release, this is where my recommendation lies.
-Also out this week are two awful films in Alice in Wonderland and The Wolfman. Alice made a boatload of money, but it ranks as perhaps Tim Burton's worst film to me. Wolfie is supposed to be better with its Director's Cut, but it won't ever make it into my Blu-Ray player, so I'll never know. If either of these films worked for you, grab them and enjoy, but they did nothing for me.
-My Vintage pick this week is, in honor of the release of Get Him to the Greek, the film that inspired it. It's Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and I absolutely adore this awkward romantic comedy. It's hilarious and touching, well worth a second (or third, or fourth) viewing.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

It's a rather down week for DVD...

...though one of the films out this week is certainly one with its fans. For my PICK OF THE WEEK, I had to go with a film that didn't do much for me upon release, but is a film that I didn't overtly hate. It's:
The Road
Full disclosure on my part...I didn't care much for the book either. This movie just never connected with me as it should have, muting the performances and potential power of the film. To me, it's just an interesting failure, but to plenty of people it was one of the best of 2009. If you're one of those, pick it up and enjoy. This post-apocalyptic character study isn't a bad film by any stretch, and it's the best of the week for me, but that's only because of the dearth of releases this week, so take that as you will.
-Also out we have 3 films that I haven't seen. There's the comedy Mystery Team, which I've heard good things about. There's the tearjerker Dear John, which I've heard bad things about, and the suspense flick Tell-Tale, which I've heard almost nothing about. If any of these have some appeal to you, grab them and enjoy.
-My Vintage pick this week is, in honor of the release of Survival of the Dead, the other George A. Romero zombie flicks. There's Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, and Diary of the Dead. You can even throw in the remake of Dawn of the Dead if you want, since it's a pretty good horror flick, if inferior to the original. All are good films in my book, so check them out if you haven't.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

There's some Prestige on DVD this week...

...one of which is my top choice. First off, apologies for this not going up until late, but I've added a full time job onto my screenwriting and the full time job that is being a Senior Staff Writer here. Forgive me for the delay, as I'm learning to live without sleep. That being said, let's press on. My choice for the PICK OF THE WEEK got nominated for 2 Oscars. It's:
The Messenger
This movie grew on me as the year went on. When I first saw it at a very early screening last year, I was impressed mostly with the lead performance of Ben Foster (my original review can be found here). When I revisited it when it came out in general release, the rest of its charms came out to me. This human drama about the emotional costs of war is powerful stuff, and if you're looking for a low-key companion piece to The Hurt Locker, this is an excellent choice.
-Also out this week is Clint Eastwood's latest Invictus. It didn't do much for me, but I recognize that it's not a bad film. Perhaps I would have preferred a traditional Nelson Mandela biopic, but this is what we ended up with. It's lesser Eastwood, but it certainly has its fans. If you're among them, pick it up and enjoy.
-The rest of the releases include the ensemble romantic comedy Valentine's Day, the documentary When You're Strange, the drama Extraordinary Measures, the "comedy" The Spy Next Door, and the foreign drama The Girl on the Train. None of them rocked my world, but id any appeal to you, go for it.
-My Vintage pick is, in honor of Shrek Forever After, the original film that started it all. It's Shrek, and despite the way the franchise crumbled with the third installment, the first two flicks (the first one especially) are rather hilarious. Pop the first one in and enjoy!
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

Some of the films from early 2010 hit DVD this week...

...hoping to make a bigger splash here than they did in theaters. It's not a great week for DVD in terms of quality or volume, but it's not the worst we've had, so there's that. For my PICK OF THE WEEK, I went with the only film this week I gave a positive review to. It's:
Daybreakers
An interesting sci-fi take on the vampire story, this futuristic flick is a complete B movie, but a compelling and well made one. There's ideas to be found here, and while it's not a classic or anything, it's very solid genre fare that's worth a look for anyone into vampires or the future.
-Also out this week we have Edge of Darkness and Legion. The former is a decent Mel Gibson starring vehicle that never quite becomes as good as it could have been, while the latter is a stunningly mediocre to bad action movie that makes absolutely no sense. Between the two, definitely go with Mel, but neither did a whole lot for me in general.
-My Vintage pick this week is, in honor of the release of Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, Mel Brooks' alternate take on the legend. It's Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and it's a laugh riot. Though not the best Brooks ever put out, it's definitely amusing and well worth watching again (or for the first time).
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

It's a rather crummy week for DVD...

...but we won't let that stop us, now will we? While nothing is especially great this week, there's one small film that's good enough to just barely warrant a selection as my PICK OF THE WEEK. It's:
Tetro
I didn't love this film by Frances Ford Coppola, but I didn't hate it either. It's too long and too slow, but Coppola is still a master filmmaker and even his lesser outputs are still worthy of notice. This didn't do much of anything last year in theaters, so now could be a chance to check it out and see where you rank this in terms of Coppola's oeuvre.
-The other major release this week is Nine, a film I didn't care for one bit. It felt like such a waste and a missed opportunity. Everything that worked for Rob Marshall with "Chicago" failed him here with this film. Now, with that being said, it's not an overtly awful film, and I know it has its fans. If you're one of them, grab it and enjoy. I won't be, but that's just me.
-Also out is the mediocre romantic comedy Leap Year and the awful kids flick Tooth Fairy, but that's about it for this week. DVD releases slow down with the summer blockbusters opening, but there's still plenty of stuff in the coming weeks worth owning, so don't give up hope!
-My Vintage pick is, in honor of this week's release of Iron Man 2, well...Iron Man. One of the best superhero flicks out there, it's just a great film to sit and enjoy. The new flick is rumored to be a step down, so this movie is perhaps the best bet in general this week, but that's neither here nor there.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

It's a decent enough week for DVD...

...with some interesting options, though nothing that blew me away personally. For my PICK OF THE WEEK, I went with a film that I enjoyed, but one that was enjoyed far more by our own Myles Hughes (and my girlfriend for that matter...and yes, they're separate people). It's:
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
I liked much more of this flick than I disliked, but I still didn't dig it as much as some (including the aforementioned two people) did. That being said, it's the best that Terry Gilliam has been in a while, and features a nice performance by Heath Ledger to close out his career. The tragic passing changed this movie, and we'll never know what it might have been, but what it is is pretty good. If you're a fan of the actor or filmmaker, this is a good addition to your collection, mildly flawed as it may be.
-The release of note this week is It's Complicated, which is essentially porn for middle aged women. It does have some very funny scenes and a great comedic performance by Alec Baldwin, but overall I found it lacking. If you didn't, go right ahead and pick this one up.
-Also out this week is the John Malkovich drama Disgrace, Liam Neeson's crime drama Five Minutes of Heaven, the action flick Distict B13: Ultimatum, and the very mediocre horror comedy Transylmania. If any of these appealed to you, grab them and enjoy!
-My Vintage pick is, in honor of Friday's release of A Nightmare on Elm Street, the original Freddy flick. It's also called A Nightmare on Elm Street, and it's bound to be better than the new one, so if you haven't seen it, see it now!
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

The highest grossing film of all time comes to DVD this week...

...but is it my top pick this week? Well, no. I had considered it, but considering it's (as the title of the post indicates) the highest grossing film of all time (without adjusting for inflation, of course), it really doesn't need my help, so I looked elsewhere. What I came to for my PICK OF THE WEEK was a smaller film, but perhaps a better one. It's:
Crazy Heart
A few of the best performances of the year, in a movie with some of the best music of the year, this is a small gem that holds the distinction of being the film to finally get Jeff Bridges an Oscar. While it's not on the level of something like The Wrestler, this flick is of a similar ilk and should appeal to anyone who likes country music and/or good character studies. It's well worth a look if you haven't seen it yet.
-Also out this week is, of course, the behemoth known as Avatar. Though not as impressive on subsequent viewings, this is still a pretty entertaining piece of popcorn cinema, and should join many a DVD collection in the coming days (not to mention Blu-Ray collections). You don't need me to tell you anything about this film, so if you want it, go out and get it.
-The rest of the releases are a mixed bag. None of them really do it for me, but the best of the flawed bunch is the suspense drama Uncertainty. It's yet another interesting project by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and while it could have turned out a lot better, it also could have been a lot worse. Next down on the list is the costume drama The Young Victoria, which has a wonderful turn by Emily Blunt, but not much else. After that is this year's 44 Inch Chest, which I didn't dislike, but found lacking (you can read my review here). Last (and in my eyes, least), we come to The Lovely Bones, one of the more decisive movies of 2009. It got a critical dicing, but audience reaction was split down the middle, with equal numbers loving and hating it. Personally, it did absolutely nothing for me, but if you're a fan, pick it up and enjoy.
-My Vintage pick is, in honor of the release Friday of Paper Man, a grouping of some of the best performances of Jeff Daniels' career. In alphabetical order, they are Imaginary Heroes, The Lookout, Radio Days, and The Squid and the Whale. All are excellent movies on their own, and he's excellent in them, to boot.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

Another of the most underrated films of 2009 hits DVD today!

In my humble opinion, at least, this film in question got unfairly lost in the shuffle. There were only a handful of films that I enjoyed more in 2009, and I ended up seeing over 150, so that's no small feat. In another light week for DVD, it's essentially my PICK OF THE WEEK by default, but honestly, it'd be my pick in almost any week. It's:
Pirate Radio
One of my 10 favorites of 2009, this movie was perhaps the most entertaining thing I saw last year. The combination of British humor and 70's Rock and Roll music was perfect, and it just gave you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside while watching it. It's got a great ensemble cast and writer/director Richard Curtis adds another gem to his already stellar resume, coming off of his directorial debut with Love Actually. It really was kind of dumped into theaters last year and it didn't deserve that fate at all, so go pick it up this week and allow it to have a second life on DVD. This one comes highly recommended by yours truly.
-The only other releases this week are two films that only got token theatrical releases early on in 2010, essentially as a preview for their DVD release this week. They're the Woody Harrelson "superhero" comedy Defendor and Tim Allen's directorial debut Crazy on the Outside. I'll be looking to watch both of these flicks this week and submit proper reviews for the 2010 database, since I was vaguely interested in them to begin with, so be on the lookout for those in the future!
-My Vintage pick is, in honor of Friday's release of Kick-Ass, some films to help prepare for the film in question, based off of my script review (found here). The movies I'd say to check out are Spider-Man, Superbad, and Watchmen. That combination will give you a bit of a feel for what is to come, and besides that, they're just interesting movies in general.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

It might be the worst week for DVD in the history of the column...

...but I'm still bringing it to you, painful as this week may in fact be. My choice for the PICK OF THE WEEK came down to either a mediocre to bad film or a bad to awful film (since I don't want to highlight a double dip or direct to DVD fare), so I went with the lesser of two evils (though both made my Bottom 10 of 2009 list). It is:
The Collector
Hardcore horror fans need only apply, since I'm fairly big into horror and this was tasteless enough to turn me off. It's well made enough, but it just goes over the line for me and is pointless gore that just got on my nerves. That being said, it's slightly better than my other option for the week...
-That other option being Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. I know a lot of people found this film to be good, but I thought that outside of a nicely wacky Nicholas Cage performance, it was absolutely dreadful. If you were a fan, go pick it up and enjoy though, don't let me stop you.
-To make up for the dearth of good choices, I'll forgo making my Vintage pick this week tie into a new release and instead just list 10 good movies I recommend seeing if you haven't already (these might be repeats of former picks, but just go with it). They are: American Pie, Blast From the Past, How To Kill Your Neighbor's Dog, Imaginary Heroes, In the Bedroom, Leaving Las Vegas, Real Genius, Reign Over Me, Talk Radio, and We Were Soldiers. Enjoy!
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

Another of the most recent nominees for Best Picture hits DVD this week...

...and it's one of the better ones, in my humble opinion. The film in question is not surprisingly my PICK OF THE WEEK, and it's one of the best films of the year in general. It's:
An Education
Carey Mulligan gave one of the performances of the year in this terrific coming of age tale. In fact, I'd argue that this is one of the two or three best acted films of 2009. Credit goes to Nick Hornby for also coming up with one of the best scripts of 2009 as well. It's such a simple yet complex movie, it'll be one to watch again and again in coming years. I highly recommend picking it up.
-Also out this week is two decently high quality films (The Baader Meinhof Complex and Afghan Star), one average/slightly disappointing film (Sherlock Holmes), and one utter piece of garbage (Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel). None of them left much of an impression on me, but if they appeal to you, go for it and enjoy.
-My Vintage pick this week is, in honor of the Friday release of Leaves of Grass, another movie involving copious amounts of pot and pot dealing. It's The Wackness, one of my favorite films of 2008. It's an excellent character study that is well worth checking out if you've yet to.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

There's a lot of quality on DVD this week...

...and while none of the films are great, all of them are good, making this the rare week in which all of the releases get a recommendation from me. For my PICK OF THE WEEK, I chose to go with the following film:
Brothers
Some of the best acting of the year is featured in this film about the mental anguish that the current war has brought home. Tobey Maguire gives perhaps his best performance ever in this movie, and I highly recommend it for its acting alone, if for no other reason.
-The other releases are good as well, if not quite as good. We have the oddball comedy Men Who Stare at Goats, which is a bit sillier than it needed to be, but still is a lot of fun. There's also The Blind Side, which Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for (as you all know by now). I have issues with this film, but I like it enough to recommend it. Wes Anderson goes the animation route with Fantastic Mr. Fox, which was decently charming and is worth a watch. Finally, we have Red Cliff, John Woo's best film in a while. You have the choice of the U.S. release, which is editing for time, or the foreign release, which is available in two separate parts.
-My Vintage pick is, in honor of Friday's release of Hot Tub Time Machine, another time travel film (perhaps the best ever). It's Back To The Future, and frankly, if you've never seen this classic...get off your ass.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

It's a pretty down week for DVD releases...

...but we press on anyway! There happens to be a lot of volume this week, but quality is severely limited. In fact, the only film I'd even bother to recommend this week with more than a passing mention is the one I've chosen as my PICK OF THE WEEK by default, essentially. It's:
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
The directorial debut of actor John Krasinski is a very interesting, if flawed adaptation of the title of the same name by David Foster Wallace. He assembled a great cast and shows enough potential as a filmmaker that I'm able to recommend this. If you like something different, you just might like this.
-The aforementioned other titles that I can passingly recommend are the latest flick by Pedro Almodovar, called Broken Embraces, as well as the Disney flick The Princess and the Frog. Neither seemed to be quite as good as potentially hoped for, but both are pretty good compared to the rest of the offerings left this week, so there you have it.
-Rounding out the rest of the movies are the dumb action flicks Armored and Ninja Assassin, as well as the family flicks Astro Boy and Bandslam. There's also The Fourth Kind, which had potential in the wake of Paranormal Activity, but was just plain bland, and New Moon, but the less said about that, the better. Lastly, we have the best of the mediocre bunch, a dramedy from earlier this year I didn't think too much of called Wonderful World. I never thought I'd have anything else to say about the movie, but in a week like this, it rises towards the top (if you're curious about my review of it, it's found here).
-My Vintage pick this week is, in honor of the release of Repo Men, a very similar film called Repo! The Genetic Opera. It's a mess of a movie, but it's a fun mess and an interesting rock opera, so if Repo Men looks too high class for you, give this B movie a shot.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

My favorite film of 2009 comes to DVD this week...

...highlighting one of the better weeks for DVD in recent memory. Leading things off is a film that will surprise no one as my PICK OF THE WEEK, if you've been paying any attention to the site during this past year. It's:
Up in the Air
Not only was this my #1 film of 2009, but it made my top 10 of the decade list. Quite simply, this was a perfect film, a masterpiece of film-making by Jason Reitman. I loved every part of this film, from the magnificent script to the brilliant acting by George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick to the flawless direction by Reitman. Nothing I can say can sell the film anymore than it already has been previously, so just go out and get it today!
-Coming in close second place this week is Michael Moore's latest (and in my opinion, best) documentary Capitalism: A Love Story. I don't think any film made me cry more than this one did. It's a powerful assault on the way we live our lives, and I recommend it to anyone, regardless of your politics.
-Also worth a look this week is the sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. It's nowhere near as entertaining as the original, but Troy Duffy has made an adequate enough follow-up that it's a recommended viewing, though you should keep your expectations low. There's also the hard to watch yet rewarding drama The Stoning of Soraya M., which features some great acting. Worth a mention also is the direct to DVD film Hachi: A Dog's Tale, which features Richard Gere and is pretty good, from what I hear. Of course, I'd be remiss not to mention Precious, a film I didn't like nearly as much as most, but a flick that I realize is a quality effort. If you liked the film more than me, it's certainly one to pick up.
-Finally, the mediocre animated flick Planet 51 is out this week, as well as the cinematic abortion that is Old Dogs, but the less said about those, the better (though if you want to read me tear apart the latter film, read my review of it here).
My Vintage pick is, in honor of the limited release this week of festival favorite The Exploding Girl, another film that I see as a companion in terms of being a strong character study (or a potentially strong one in the former's case). It's Half Nelson, and it was one of my favorite films of 2006, as well as being one of my all time favorite character studies and featuring a phenomenal performance by Ryan Gosling.. If you like the actor, this is some fine work by him, and if you've never seen the film, now's your chance to correct that.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

Another of the Best Films of the Year hits DVD this week, and it's a "Wild Thing"!

Well, "best" as in it was rather high up on my Top 10 of 2009 list, but hey, I write this column, so I suppose I make the definitions. As it is, my PICK OF THE WEEK is also really the only really great movie on DVD this week. It's:
Where the Wild Things Are
This movie was absolute magic to me, capturing the book of the same name perfectly while expanding it to include some very poignant and timely issues. Director Spike Jonze (who also co-wrote the screenplay with author/scribe Dave Eggers) spun straw into gold, as it were, and add in a great performance by young Max Records, and this was easily one of the best films of the year in my eyes. I highly recommend this one!
-The other movies out this week getting a recommendation are the animated film Ponyo and the documentary We Live in Public. Both were well regarded yet underseen flicks, and if they appear to be your cup of tea, pick them up and enjoy.
-The rest of the releases are somewhat flawed, yet enjoyable. There's the disaster flick 2012, which turned out better than I expected (mostly due to the efforts of John Cusack), but still is way too long and incredibly silly. There's also the drama The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, which should have been a lot better, but just never put it together. Finally, there's the fantasy comedy Gentlemen Broncos, which frankly, was just too weird. None are bad, but all could, and should, have been better than they turned out to be.
-My Vintage pick is, in honor of Friday's release of Brooklyn's Finest, a really great and underrated cop movie. It's Cop Land, and anyone who never got to see this modern day western should do themselves a favor and check it out. You'll thank me later!
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

One of the most underrated films of 2009 comes to DVD this week!

Indeed, one of the most upsetting things to come with the shuttering of the Miramax label was the lack of any push that my PICK OF THE WEEK got upon release. It was a real shame since it was a fantastic film. It's:
Everybody's Fine
Robert De Niro gives one of his very best performances in this dramedy about a father who finally begins to learn about his children now that they are all grown up. It's one of the most touching movies that I saw in 2009, and since it tanked at the box office, now is the time for everyone who missed this flick to check it out and enjoy.
-Other releases getting a recommendation from me this week is the sports biopic The Damned United, which has an excellent performance from Michael Sheen and is a film that has grown on me with successive viewings, the Anna Wintour documentary The September Issue, and the Nazi zombie horror flick Dead Snow. Three very different films, but three quality ones which I think have a great deal of appeal.
-The rest of the releases are a mixed bag. There are flawed but decent films like Steven Soderbergh's The Informant!, the parenting comedy Motherhood, the sci-fi flick The Box, and the claymation drama $9.99, which is perhaps the most interesting of the bunch. There's also just plain flawed flicks like the horror adventure Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant as well as the horror remake Sorority Row. None of these are awful flicks, but they all should have been better, in my humble opinion.
-My Vintage pick is, in honor of this week's release of Cop Out, 2 of perhaps Kevin Smith's most underrated films. They are Jersey Girl and Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Both had great expectations, and while some consider them failures, I see them as minor gems in Smith's underrated career. If you haven't seen either yet, ignore the grievances and give them a shot and see what you think.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

It's a bit of a down week for DVD...

...but that's not to say that there's nothing to be found, just that the quality options are rather limited. On that front, my choice for the PICK OF THE WEEK is a real powerful, if hard to watch, flick. It's:
Hunger
This rough drama gets the Criterion treatment right out of the gate, and it's a great movie that's well worth watching, especially for Michael Fassbender's searing performance. He gives his all, and it shows. Check it out if you think you can handle it.
-Also out getting a recommendation from me is the indie comedy Splinterheads. It's pretty silly, but it's wittier than I expected, so while it won't set the world on fire, it's a solid choice for something to watch that won't give you any heartburn, as my grandfather likes to say.
-The rest of the releases this week are flawed, at best. Tops here are the blaxploitation parody Black Dynamite, which most people liked more than I did, but I contend is more a good idea than a good movie. There's also the biopic Coco Before Chanel, which suffers from, frankly, being boring. We have Chris Rock's documentary Good Hair, which never engaged me like it should have, and at the bottom of the pile is the steaming turn known as Law Abiding Citizen. It's an insult to anyone's intelligence, and I recommend steering clear of this and finding a more competent film to watch.
-My Vintage pick is, in honor of the release of Shutter Island, a couple of movies by director Martin Scorsese that are underrated and fit in with his impending release. They are Bringing Out the Dead and Cape Fear. Really, any Scorsese film works, though if you have the time, throw in a Hitchcock flick to prepare yourself for Friday's new release.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

One of the nominees for Best Picture comes to DVD, but will it get top honors this week?

The answer is, to no one who knows my thoughts on the year in film that was 2009's surprise, no. My choice for the PICK OF THE WEEK is a film that did pretty well at the Box Office, but was not regarded with the critical praise that I felt that it deserved. It's:
The Time Traveler's Wife
This was one of my most underrated films of the year. It's a surprisingly touching romantic drama with a tinge of science fiction to boot. Eric Bana did some good work in the lead role, but Rachel McAdams is extraordinary. The movie has a great take on the "love conquers all" theme, and I highly recommend that everyone who passed it up in theaters give it a chance on DVD.
-Falling short of top honors is a film that I like less than most, but recognize as a great achievement. It's A Serious Man, and while I felt it didn't add up to enough, I recognize that I'm in the minority (it did get a Best Picture nomination, after all), so if this film worked for you, now's your chance to grab it for home viewing.
-The rest of the releases this week are a mixed bag. At the top of the group is Bronson, and interesting indie biopic that was just a little to weird for its own good, though it's well worth watching. The other releases of some quality include My One and Only, which is fair, but features a good performance by Renee Zellweger, and Serious Moonlight, which is a comedy in need of more laughs. Heading downhill we have the "comedies" Couples Retreat and I Hate Valentine's Day, and the useless horror remake The Stepfather. None of these really worked for me, but if you digged them, enjoy.
-My Vintage pick this week is, in honor of the release Friday of Valentine's Day, a movie that obviously inspired this. It's Love Actually, and I adore this movie. I doubt Valentine's Day can turn out better than Love Actually, but we shall see. In the meantime, re-watch this modern classic with the special someone in your life.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

The weekly DVD column is here, only one day late (for obvious reasons)...

Yes, normally Tuesdays is DVD day, but with the nominations being on everybody's minds, I figured I'd give it an extra 24 hours. Now that the world revolves slightly less around the nods, we're back in the DVD business. For this week's PICK OF THE WEEK, I'm going with one of the most purely entertaining films of the year. It's:
Zombieland
One of the most fun surprises of the year, this movie works as both a horror satire, an honest to goodness zombie movie, and a slapstick comedy. For my money, this is Woody Harrelson's best performance this year, and Jesse Eisenberg proves to be an excellent partner for Woody, as he himself is channeling Woody Allen here. It's a great deal of fun and just a well made movie. I highly recommend this if you haven't yet seen it. It's one of my top 20 film of 2009 and is definitely worth checking out.
-Other films getting a recommendation from me this week include the short film collection New York I Love You, the Lebron James documentary More Than a Game, and the 80's horror throwback The House of the Devil. All three films have flaws, but all three are strong enough to overcome them and be worth a look to anyone who thinks they'd enjoy themselves with one or all of them.
-The rest of the bunch this week fall short for me. The dramedy Cold Souls has its moments, but it's trying way too hard to be like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, only not as good. Love Happens is a trite and disappointing waste of two good leads, and Amelia is a boring waste of a potentially good biopic. None are that awful, but none are especially good.
-My Vintage pick this week is not going to be based on a release this week. Instead it's simply a choice group of the Oscar nominated films available on DVD. They are, in alphabetical order: The Cove, District 9, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, In The Loop, Paris 36, Star Trek, and Up. I enjoyed them all a great deal, and hopefully you will too!
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

Today's the Big Day, so look for the DVD column tomorrow...

...something tells me everyone is more concerned with the nominations than my column, so I'll publish it tomorrow instead. Be sure to check here frequently this morning as we cover what the Academy decided to do!